Improvement in thrust-bearings for shafts



C. GUDFREY.

Thrust-Bearings for Shafts.

Patented oct. 20,1874.

@flfzeqw @es y UNTTEE STATES CORNELIUS GODFREY, OF

HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN THRUST-BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,153., dated October20, 1874; application filed March 10, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, CORNELIUS GoDEaEY, of the town of Huntington, Suffolkcounty, and State of N ew York,`have invented an Improved Thrust Bearingfor Propeller Screw Shafts, andI hereby declare that thefollowing isafull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates, to an improved mode of securing the screw-shaftof a steam-ship, to enable the shaft to withstand the longitudinal orend pressure thereon, caused by the action of the screw; and its objectis to obviate the loss of power by reason ol' friction, which isoccasioned by all devices hitherto employed for that purpose.

My invention consists of a thrust-bearing for a screw -shaft, composedof cylindrical rollers, working in contact with a flange or a face-platesecured to or forming part of the shaft, and each having an independentrotary motion, and having bearings in suitable boxes or blocks securelyfixed to the timbers of the vessel, by which means the screw-shaft iseffectually prevented from moving endwise by the thrust or pressurecaused by the action of the screw, without material waste of power byfriction.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a plan view of a portion of ascrew-shaft with my improved thrust-bearing, and Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of one of the boxes or blocks through the line X X.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the screw, and B the screwshaft, of a steam-ship, both ofwhich may be of ordinary or common construction, and therefore do notdemand a particular description, except as hereinafter mentioned.

O is a grooved ilange, keyed or otherwise secured firmly to the shaft B,or it may be made solid with the shaft. D I) are short cylindricalrollers having a mitered edge formed on their periphery to fit closelyinto the groove formed on the periphery of the flange C. These rollers Dare provided with journals, (as shown in Fig. 2,) on which they rotate,each of them having an independent motion, which said journals havebearings in the metal boxes or blocks E, which are firmly secured to thetimbers of the vessel by screwbolts, or other suitable means, and may bemade adjustable by means of slots m formed in the flanges a, whichreceive' the bolts by which the boxes are secured to the timbers. Theupper plate b of the box E is secured to the lower or bed-plate c byscrew-bolts, each of said plates having a semi-cylindrical groove formedthereon, to receive the journals of the roller, D, and which groove alsoreceives the ends of the set-screws F, by means ot' which the saidrollers may be adjusted to the dan ge so as to work closely in contacttherewith, and prevent any longitudinal movement of the shaft B.

The relative sizes of the flange C and roller D may be varied as may befound convenient or desirable. I

By means of this construction and arrangement of parts, the displacementof the screwshaft, by reason of the end-thrust caused by the action ofthe screw, is entirely obviated, and without material loss of power byfriction, and thus the power usually `absorbed by the devices hithertoused. for preventing longitudinal motion of the shaft -is reserved forpropelling the vessel.

As a modification of the above, the flange C may have a mitered edge orperiphery, and the rollers D a groove cut in their periphery to receivethe same.

In the drawing two langes and sets of rollers are shown, but of courseit will be une derstood that any desired number of flanges withcorresponding roller-bearings may be employed, as may be foundconvenient or necessary. u

W'hat I claim as my invention is- A thrust-bearin g for ascrew-propeller shaft, consisting of two or more rollers, D, havingbearings in boxes or bloclrs E, secured to the vessel, and madeadjustable by the slots m, the said rollers working in contact with ailange or face-plate, C, 0,11 the shaft B, and being kept in positionbya set-screw, F, all substantially as set forth.

CORNELIUS GODFREY.

Witnesses:

J oHN S. THORNTON, A. P. SMITH.

